The God of Hope
© 2008 Seedsower Music.
© 2008 Seedsower Music.
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Purpose: |
Drumming up hope from earthly sources takes up much of our time, but it is, well, hopeless. Only God can provide hope that lasts, hope based on who He is and His intentions for us. It's all good, because God promises, and then delivers on His word.
Commentary: | Isaiah was facing the worst of times. There was no "best of times" about it. Conspiracy theories abounded. Rumors of pending invading armies spread like wildfire. Perhaps even Isaiah began to let his imagination run away with him. At any rate, God stepped in. What was the word He gave Isaiah?
The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary....Isaiah 8:11-14
God is our sanctuary. He is our place of refuge, where we can hide. The God we worship is a God of hope. And this kind of hope has nothing in common with "I wish." This hope is based in the faithful character of our God, someone who is trustworthy, who keeps His word. In that truth, and in His presence, all fear evaporates. So what do in light of that? We lay our burdens at His feet, that's what we do. And we wait, in hope.
Commentary: | Isaiah was facing the worst of times. There was no "best of times" about it. Conspiracy theories abounded. Rumors of pending invading armies spread like wildfire. Perhaps even Isaiah began to let his imagination run away with him. At any rate, God stepped in. What was the word He gave Isaiah?
The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary....Isaiah 8:11-14
God is our sanctuary. He is our place of refuge, where we can hide. The God we worship is a God of hope. And this kind of hope has nothing in common with "I wish." This hope is based in the faithful character of our God, someone who is trustworthy, who keeps His word. In that truth, and in His presence, all fear evaporates. So what do in light of that? We lay our burdens at His feet, that's what we do. And we wait, in hope.
